Dr Rym Kachouri leads the technical support and agency products business for automation and integration business Foodmach. She is also a director of the Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association (APPMA). PKN talks to her about her career and contribution.
YOU HAVE WORKED ABROAD IN FOUR COUNTRIES, ARE FLUENT IN FIVE LANGUAGES, AND HAVE BROUGHT A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO THE FOODMACH AND APPMA TABLE. WHAT ARE A FEW CAREER HIGHLIGHTS, AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN AUSTRALIA?
Being awarded my PhD was very satisfying; however, achieving success when we combine teams and technology has always appealed to me. At Heuft (German product inspection technology) and now at Foodmach, I’ve been fortunate to work with supportive, skilled professionals and excellent technology. In Australia, it’s the inclusivity that I value the most. Paradoxically, I feel at home here more than anywhere else. I have a multicultural background, which means I was often seen as a foreigner, even in my home countries. In Australia, I can be myself with all my different multicultural aspects and be accepted as I am. No one puts any label on my head about my background. And if they do, it’s surprisingly positive! I am very grateful to have the chance to live here, and I know many people who say the same.
AS GENERAL MANAGER SERVICE AND AGENCY PRODUCTS, YOU MANAGE A LARGE TEAM OF TECHNICIANS ACROSS AUSTRALIA. WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME WITH PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS?
The challenges were actually very good for us. It was another opportunity to distinguish ourselves from the competition. We have a capable Australia-wide team, so travel restrictions were manageable. We were invited to install and commission complex machinery from overseas suppliers who couldn’t get their people here, which has led to significant new partnerships.
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP TRAITS IN YOUR ROLE?
Empathy and adapting to the diversity of the people in my team. I believe that, as the manager, I should adapt to them, not the other way around. This support ensures they can perform at their best. I also like to anticipate the needs of my team and the market. I love the strategy and planning aspect of my role, working on numbers in spreadsheets to ensure the plan matches reality.
YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE APPMA HAS BEEN MARKED BY ENTHUSIASM, PASSION AND CONTRIBUTION. WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING?
I’m genuinely honoured and proud to represent our members and support our industry. We have a great team at the APPMA. My aim has been to promote an increased international perspective and focus on inclusion to ensure that we appeal to a wider audience and make better, more creative decisions. In the past few years, I’ve been involved with some important milestone initiatives, including revising and modernising the over 30-year-old constitution, now with online voting; supporting a research project to fight food waste to promote new ideas and best practices in our industry; and creating new events in addition to Auspack to attract talent to our industry.
WHAT IS YOUR CORE BELIEF AROUND THE VALUE OF INCREASED DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE?
To increase the diversity in thinking. In the end, we are all different. I believe that the strength of a team is to allow everyone to think and express themselves to bring new dynamics and ideas. We managers are there to support this, to ensure the diverse ideas are brought forward and then aligned with company goals. Feedback and ideas from the people doing the actual job in the field allow us to improve together. We can grow the company by growing each individual.
FINALLY, WHAT PUTS THE KICK IN YOUR STEP EVERY DAY?
This will probably sound very naïve, but the real kick is to know I am leading a team of happy people who enjoy their work. I enjoy being there to support them. The business success we enjoy as a result is the icing on the cake.
This article has been published in People in Packaging, in the September-October print issue of PKN Packaging News, on page 38.
